diff --git a/usr.sbin/newsyslog/Makefile b/usr.sbin/newsyslog/Makefile
index 268053154abc..ab06f3a5041f 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/newsyslog/Makefile
+++ b/usr.sbin/newsyslog/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
 PROG=	newsyslog
 MAN=	newsyslog.8
 
-WARNS=	2
+WARNS?=	2
 
 .include <bsd.prog.mk>
diff --git a/usr.sbin/wicontrol/Makefile b/usr.sbin/wicontrol/Makefile
index 04bddfc97a5a..e336ad871ccf 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/wicontrol/Makefile
+++ b/usr.sbin/wicontrol/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@ MAN=	wicontrol.8
 
 CFLAGS+= -DWICACHE
 
-WARNS=2
+WARNS?=	2
 
 .include <bsd.prog.mk>